Method and instantaneous messaging system for mobile terminals equipped with a virtual presence server configured to manage different contact lists of a single user

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an instantaneous messaging system for mobile terminals comprising one or several instantaneous messaging service servers (S 1 , S 2 ) able to deliver instantaneous messaging services to mobile terminals (TA, TB 1 , TC 1 , TD 1 , TB 2 , TE 2 , TF 2 ) connected to said servers and of which the users (A, B 1 , C 1 , D 1 , B 2 , E 2 , F 2 ) have opened an instantaneous messaging session, and a virtual presence server ( 100 ) independent of the existing instantaneous messaging service servers (S 1 , S 2 ), said virtual presence server being connected to at least one mobile client terminal (TA) and to at least one of the existing messaging servers (S 1 , S 2 ) in such a way that the information intended for or sent by said mobile client terminal transits by said virtual presence server, wherein the instantaneous messaging service servers (S 1 , S 2 ) are configured to transmit contact lists intended for mobile client terminal (TA), said lists being intercepted by the virtual presence server ( 100 ), the latter comprising a means to aggregate the different contact lists received and only manage a single list ( 110 ) in which are registered the identities of the different users (B 1 , C 1 , D 1 , B 2 , E 2 , F 2 ), without distinction as to the community that said users are members of. 
     The invention also relates to a method making it possible to manage different contact lists of a single user in an instantaneous messaging session.

PRIORITY

The present application claims priority to French Patent ApplicationNo.: FR 07/07483 filed on Oct. 24, 2007; the entire contents of whichare incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to the technical field of instantaneousmessaging systems on mobile terminals and more particularly the field ofrouting information in an instantaneous messaging system.

In one aspect, the present invention relates to an instantaneousmessaging system for mobile terminals equipped with a virtual presenceserver configured to manage different contact lists of a single user.The invention also relates to a method making it possible to managedifferent contact lists of a single user in an instantaneous messagingsession.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When a user wishes to open an instantaneous messaging session, acomputer application placed in his mobile terminal sends a presencerequest intended for the messaging server. This presence requestgenerally contains data making it possible to identify the user. Oncethe user has been identified by the messaging server, the latter sendsto the other users that have opened a session, a piece of informationindicating the presence of said user and his wish to converse. Thecomputer application periodically sends the presence requests to theinstantaneous messaging server according to a certain frequency.

When the user closes his messaging session, the computer applicationsends a disconnection request intended for the instantaneous messagingserver. This disconnection request indicates to the messaging serverthat the user wishes to close his session and that he no longer wishesto converse with the other users. The messaging server then informs theother users of this event.

It may happen that a mobile terminal user cannot, or does not wish to,keep his instantaneous messaging session open constantly. This may bethe case when the user is in a meeting, driving his car, etc. In suchsituations and with systems known in the art, either the user closes hissession or he keeps it open but without conversing.

In the case where the user closes his session, the other users will beinformed of this closing and they will stop conversing with him. Thiscan be detrimental for the user, since he no longer receives anyinformation at all until he opens a session again.

In the case where the user keeps his session open, he will no longer beable to converse with the other users. It can be unpleasant for theother users to not receive prompt replies from their correspondent,especially when the instantaneous messaging service is perceived as ameans to be reach others in real time. This situation shows a firstdisadvantage with messaging systems known in the art.

In conventional instantaneous messaging systems, instantaneous messagingservers are able to deliver instantaneous messaging services toterminals connected to the servers, the users of which have opened aninstantaneous messaging session.

Instantaneous messaging servers are in particular configured to detect auser connected to the instantaneous messaging service and inform theother users of his presence so that they may converse. Theseinstantaneous messaging service servers are equipped with limited andvery general features.

Other more complex services such as message filtering can be deliveredby the messaging servers, but are not necessarily present in allmessaging servers. If these services are not necessarily present,integrating such new services for use in a mobile terminal is a long andcostly process for the operators, since a large number of initiallyprovided management protocols and Software/Hardware must be modified.This is a second disadvantage found in known messaging systems of theart.

An instantaneous messaging system for mobile terminals known in the artis shown in FIG. 1. User A may have different contact lists, for exampletwo in the instant case: a first list containing three contacts B1, C1,D1 members of a first instantaneous messaging service community Co1, forexample YAHOO®; and a second list containing three other contacts B2,E2, F2 members of a second community Co2, for example MSN®. Thesecontact lists are generally sent by the instantaneous messaging serviceservers S1, S2, to user A's mobile terminal TA. If user A wishes toconverse with users B1, C1 and D1, he must connect to the instantaneousmessaging server S1 associated with the first community Co1. If user Asubsequently wishes to converse with users B2, C2 and D2 registered onthe second community Co2, for example MSN®, he must disconnect from thefirst server S1 and connect to instantaneous messaging server S2associated with this second community. This method is thereforelaborious and sequential. In addition, there is no link between thedifferent contact lists. For example, if user B is registered on severallists, it is not possible to have him appear one single time in a singlelist.

In order to efficiently manage a conversation via a instantaneousmessaging service, it is simpler to converse only with a single portionof one's contacts and filter the messages from users with whom one doesnot to converse. Indeed, if all of the users converse at the same time,the conversation quickly becomes difficult to follow, all the more sowhen using a mobile terminal. To that end, user A can define filteringrules in such a way as to block messages intended for or sent by userswith whom he does not wish to converse.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, concerning community Co1, user A wishesto converse only with user B1. Concerning community Co2, user A wishesto converse with users B2 and E2 and not with user F2. To that end, userA sends a request to server S1 intended to indicate that:

-   -   only messages coming from users B1, B2 and E2 can be        communicated to him and/or messages sent by user A must only be        intended for users B1, B2 and E2 (B1=OK; B2=OK; E2=OK);    -   messages coming from users C1, D1 and F2 must be blocked and/or        messages sent by user A must not be sent to users C1, D1 and F2        (C1=NO; D1=NO; F2=NO).

The filtering techniques are known by those skilled in the art. Inprinciple, they involve filtering rules developed by the operators ofinstantaneous messaging service and integrated into their existinginstantaneous messaging service servers. Currently, integratingfiltering rules into instantaneous messaging service servers is a longand costly process for the operators, since a large number of managementprotocols and Software/Hardware must be modified. This reflects a thirddisadvantage present in known messaging systems of the art.

Another possibility that can be considered by those skilled in the artconsists in integrating the filtering rules into the software of themobile terminal which makes it possible to connect to the messagingservers. However, these filtering rules are known only by the softwareof the mobile terminal and the user will not retrieve these rules if heconnects using another mobile terminal. In addition, this solutionburdens the software of the mobile terminal since the data must bestored. This becomes a handicap in the case of mobile terminals havinglittle or no storage and processing capacities.

In reference to the example in FIG. 1, the same user B can be a memberof two different communities Co1 and Co2. In this case, he will have twodifferent identities according to whether he is connected to one or theother community, for example B@Co1.com and B@Co2.com.

When user B opens an instantaneous messaging session on the firstcommunity Co1, he is seen by user A's mobile terminal as a first user B1having, for example, B@Co1.com as identity. Likewise, when user B opensan instantaneous messaging session on a second community Co2, he is seenby user A's mobile terminal as a second user B2 having, for exampleB@Co2.com as identity.

In the instantaneous messaging service systems known in the art, in thecase where user A wishes to establish a filtering rule for user B, twoidentical rules must be defined: one for user B1 and another for userB2. Regrettably, current systems do not allow user A to define a singlefiltering rule concerning user B and to apply this single rule to usersB1 and B2. This is yet another disadvantage that affects messagingsystems known in the art.

Thus, there remains a need to simplify the management of contact listsin an instantaneous messaging session in such a way that a user caneasily converse with all of these contacts. In particular, there remainsa need to simplify the implementation of the filtering rules in aninstantaneous messaging system. There also remains a need to be able toadd new instantaneous messaging services in a system known in the art,without having to modify the management protocols and/orSoftware/Hardware that is initially installed in the existing messagingservers. Furthermore, there remains a need to allow a user to easilycontinue an instantaneous messaging session when he cannot, or does notwish, to keep his session open. Finally, there remains a need tosimplify the connection to the diverse instantaneous messaging servicecommunities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, there is provided an instantaneous messaging systemfor mobile terminals, comprising:

-   -   one or several instantaneous messaging service servers (S1, S2)        able to deliver instantaneous messaging services to mobile        terminals (TA, TB1, TC1, TD1, TB2, TE2, TF2) connected to said        servers and of which the users (A, B1, C1, D1, B2, E2, F2) have        opened an instantaneous messaging session,    -   a virtual presence server (100) independent of existing        instantaneous messaging service servers (S1, S2), said virtual        presence server being connected to at least one mobile client        terminal (TA) and to at least one of the existing messaging        servers (S1, S2) in such a way that the information intended for        or sent by said mobile client terminal transits by said virtual        presence server,

wherein the instantaneous messaging service servers (S1, S2) areconfigured to transmit contact lists intended for mobile client terminal(TA), said lists being intercepted by virtual presence server (100), thelatter comprising a means to aggregate the different contact listsreceived and only manage a single list (110) in which are registered theidentities of the different users (B1, C1, D1, B2, E2, F2), withoutdistinction as to the community that said users are members of.

In certain embodiments, mobile client terminal (TA) comprises a means totransmit a piece of information to virtual presence server (100)indicating that users (B1, B2) having different identities must betreated as a single user (B), said virtual presence server being able toconnect to the instantaneous messaging server (S1, S2) to which themobile terminal of said user (B) is connected.

In certain embodiments:

-   -   virtual presence server (100) comprises means for automatically        managing an instantaneous messaging session in place of said        user (A),    -   messaging servers (S1, S2) comprise a means to transmit a        presence request to said virtual presence server (100) when a        new user registered in the contact lists opens an instantaneous        messaging session,    -   receiving this request controls said means of management in such        a way that it sends an alert message intended for mobile client        terminal (TA) during automatic management of the messaging        session.

In certain embodiments, virtual presence server (100) comprises adatabase containing filtering rules intended to be applied to themessages sent by terminals (TB1, TC1, TD1, TB2, TE2, TF2) of users (B1,C1, D1, B2, E2, F2) registered in the contact lists.

In certain embodiments, virtual presence server (100) comprises a meansto transmit an alert message to terminals (TC1, TD1, TF2) of users (C1,D1, F2) of which the messages have been filtered.

In certain embodiments, virtual presence server (100) comprises a meansto transmit an alert message to the mobile client terminal (TA) when amessage is filtered.

In certain embodiments, mobile client terminal (TA) comprises a computerapplication making it possible to transmit filtering rules associatedwith different users (B1, C1, D1, B2, E2, F2) to virtual presence server(100), said server being equipped with means to record these filteringrules in the database.

In certain embodiments, virtual presence server (100) is equipped withmeans to analyse the contact lists transmitted by the mobile clientterminal (TA), and means to check if for each one of the users (B1, C1,D1, B2, E2, F2) registered in said lists, one or several filtering rulesare already recorded in the database.

In certain embodiments, the mobile client terminal (TA) comprises ameans to transmit a piece of information to virtual presence server(100) indicating that users (B1, B2) having different identities must betreated as a single user (B), said virtual presence server being able toconnect to the instantaneous messaging server (S1, S2) to which themobile terminal of said user (B) is connected; and the virtual presenceserver (100) is configured to apply the same filtering rule to themessages intended for or sent by the terminals of users (B1, B2) havingdifferent identities but having to be treated as a single user (B).

In another aspect, there is provided a method for automatically managinga session in a messaging system for mobile terminals, wherein:

-   -   terminals (TB1, TC1, TD1, TB2, TE2, TF2) connect to at least one        instantaneous messaging server (S1, S2) in such a way that their        users (B1, C1, D1, B2, E2, F2) can open an instantaneous        messaging session,    -   at least one mobile client terminal (TA) of one user (A)        connects to a virtual presence server (100) independent of the        existing instantaneous messaging service servers (S1, S2),    -   virtual presence server (100) connects to at least one of the        instantaneous messaging service servers (S1, S2) in such a way        that the user (A) of mobile client terminal (TA) can open an        instantaneous messaging session and converse with the other        users (B1, C1, D1, B2, E2, F2), the information intended for or        sent by said mobile client terminal transiting by said virtual        presence server,    -   contact lists intended for mobile client terminal (TA) are sent        by the instantaneous messaging service server(s) (S1, S2), said        lists being intercepted by virtual presence server (100),    -   virtual presence server (100) aggregates the different contact        lists received and only manages a single list (110) on which are        registered the identities of the different users (B1, C1, D1,        B2, E2, F2), without distinction of the community that said        users are members of.

In certain embodiments, the mobile client terminal (TA) transmits apiece of information to virtual presence server (100) indicating thatusers (B1, B2) having different identities must be treated as a singleuser (B), said virtual presence server connecting to the instantaneousmessaging server (S1, S2) to which the mobile terminal of said user (B)is connected.

In certain embodiments:

-   -   virtual presence server (100) comprises means to automatically        manage an instantaneous messaging session in place of user (A)        of mobile client terminal (TA),    -   messaging servers (S1, S2) transmit a presence request to        virtual presence server (100) when a new user registered in the        contact lists opens an instantaneous messaging session,    -   when said request is received and during automatic management of        the session, the means of management sending an alert message        intended for mobile client terminal (TA).

In certain embodiments, virtual presence server (100) comprises adatabase containing filtering rules applied to the messages sent byterminals (TB1, TC1, TD1, TB2, TE2, TF2) of users (B1, C1, D1, B2, E2,F2) registered in the contact lists.

In certain embodiments, the virtual presence server (100) transmits analert message to terminals (TC1, TD1, TF2) of users (C1, D1, F2) ofwhich the messages have been filtered.

In certain embodiments, virtual presence server (100) transmits an alertmessage to the mobile client terminal (TA) when a message is filtered.

In certain embodiments, mobile client terminal (TA) transmits filteringrules associated with different users (B1, C1, D1, B2, E2, F2) tovirtual presence server (100), said server recording these filteringrules in the database.

In certain embodiments, virtual presence server (100) analyses thecontact lists transmitted by the mobile client terminal, and checks foreach one of the users (B1, C1, D1, B2, E2, F2) registered on said lists,if one or several filtering rules are already recorded in the database.

In certain embodiments, the mobile client terminal (TA) transmits apiece of information to virtual presence server (100) indicating thatusers (B1, B2) having different identities must be treated as a singleuser (B), said virtual presence server connecting to the instantaneousmessaging server (S1, S2) to which the mobile terminal of said user (B)is connected; and virtual presence server (100) applies the samefiltering rule to the messages intended for or sent by the terminals ofusers (B1, B2) having different identities but having to be treated as asingle user (B).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an instantaneous messaging systemfor mobile terminals according known in the art.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary instantaneousmessaging system for mobile terminals according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention allows to overcome the aforementioneddisadvantages of the art. For example, in one aspect, the inventionprovides an instantaneous messaging system for mobile terminals,comprising:

-   -   one or several instantaneous messaging service servers able to        deliver instantaneous messaging services to mobile terminals        connected to said servers and of which the users have opened an        instantaneous messaging session,    -   a virtual presence server independent of the existing        instantaneous messaging service servers, said virtual presence        server being connected to at least one mobile client terminal        and to at least one of the existing messaging servers in such a        way that the information intended for or sent by said mobile        client terminal transits by said virtual presence server,    -   wherein the instantaneous messaging service servers are        configured to transmit contact lists intended for the mobile        client terminal, said lists being intercepted by the virtual        presence server, the latter comprising a means to aggregate the        different contact lists received and manage only a single list        in which is registered the identities of the different users,        without distinction as to the community that said users are        members of.

In certain embodiments, in order to optimise management of a user havingseveral identities (i.e. registered in several contact lists), themobile client terminal comprises a means to transmit a piece ofinformation to the virtual presence server indicating that users thathave different identities must be treated as a single user, said virtualpresence server being able to connect to the instantaneous messagingserver to which the mobile terminal of said user is connected.

In certain exemplary embodiments, the virtual presence server comprisesmeans to automatically manage an instantaneous messaging session inplace of the user of the mobile client terminal. In this case, in otherexemplary embodiments of the invention allowing the user of the mobileclient terminal to be informed of the presence of a new user when thevirtual presence server is managing the session automatically, themessaging system servers comprise a means to transmit to said virtualpresence server a presence request when a new user registered in thecontact lists opens an instantaneous messaging session, the reception ofthis request controlling the means of management of said virtualpresence server in such a way that said means of management sends analert message intended for said mobile client terminal during automaticmanagement of the messaging session.

In yet other exemplary embodiments of the invention making it possibleto introduce filtering rules into an instantaneous messaging systemknown in the art, without modifying the initial architecture of theexisting presence servers, the virtual presence server comprises adatabase containing filtering rules intended to be applied to themessages intended for or sent by the terminals of users registered inthe contact lists transmitted to said server. To that end, in certainembodiments, the mobile client terminal is equipped with a computerapplication making it possible to transmit filtering rules associatedwith different users to the virtual presence server, said server beingequipped with means to record these filtering rules in the database.

In yet other exemplary embodiments, the virtual presence servercomprises a means to transmit an alert message to the users of which themessages have been filtered and/or to the mobile client terminal when amessage is filtered.

In certain embodiments, simplifying management of filtering rules isdesired. To that end, the virtual presence server may be equipped withmeans to analyse the contact lists transmitted by the mobile clientterminal, and means to check whether, for each of the users registeredin said lists, one or several filtering rules are already recorded inthe database. In certain exemplary embodiments, the virtual presenceserver is configured to apply the same filtering rule to the messagesintended for or sent by the terminals of users who have differentidentities, but who must be treated as a single user.

In another aspect, there is provided a method to automatically manage asession in a messaging system for mobile terminals, wherein:

-   -   terminals connect to at least one instantaneous messaging server        in such a way that their users can open an instantaneous        messaging session,    -   at least one mobile client terminal of a user connects to a        virtual presence server independent of the existing        instantaneous messaging service servers,    -   the virtual presence server connects to at least one of the        instantaneous messaging service servers in such a way that the        user of the mobile client terminal can open an instantaneous        messaging session and converse with the other users, with the        information intended for or sent by said mobile client terminal        transiting by said virtual presence server,    -   contact lists intended for the mobile client terminal are sent        by the instantaneous messaging service server(s), said lists        being intercepted by the virtual presence server,    -   the virtual presence server aggregates the different contact        lists received and only manages a single list in which are        registered the identities of the different users, without        distinction as to the community that said users are members of.

Equivalents

The representative examples that follow are intended to help illustratethe invention, and are not intended to, nor should they be construed to,limit the scope of the invention. Indeed, various modifications of theinvention and many further embodiments thereof, in addition to thoseshown and described herein, will become apparent to those skilled in theart from the full contents of this document, including the exampleswhich follow and the references to the scientific and patent literaturecited herein. It should further be appreciated that the contents ofthose cited references are incorporated herein by reference to helpillustrate the state of the art.

Exemplification

Advantages and features of the invention can be understood further theexamples that follow, which help illustrate some of the exemplaryembodiments of the present invention. It will be appreciated, however,that these examples do not limit the invention. Variations of theinvention, now known or further developed, are considered to fall withinthe scope of the present invention as described herein and ashereinafter claimed.

In reference to FIG. 2, the instantaneous messaging system which is thepurpose of the invention comprises one or several instantaneousmessaging service servers S1, S2, of the type known by those skilled inthe art and able to deliver basic instantaneous messaging services suchas transmitting messages, states of presence management, etc.

Servers S1, S2, are associated to the different instantaneous messagingservice communities, respectively Co1, Co2. They are connected to acommunications network (MSM®, Jabber®, Yahoo!®, etc.) normally used toimplement the instantaneous messaging services. In a well known manner,these messaging servers are equipped with a processor, controller or anyother equivalent means making it possible to manage the state ofpresence of the different users and more generally, the different eventsthat occur in the system.

In the same way as in systems known in the art, servers S1, S2, are ableto deliver instantaneous messaging services to terminals connected tosaid servers and of which the users have opened an instantaneousmessaging session.

The mobile client terminals TA used to implement the invention can bemobile telephones, devices of the personal digital assistant (PDA) type,or any other mobile communications terminal able to connect to aninstantaneous messaging service. The mobile terminals are configured tobe connected to a communications network of the MSM®, Jabber®, Yahoo!®,etc. type. This type of mobile terminal is used by user A in theremainder of the description.

The other terminals TB1, TC1, TD1, TB2, TE2, TF2, used are able toconnect to the instantaneous messaging service. They can be of themobile telephone, personal digital assistant (PDA) or other type, butalso non-mobile such as computers. This type of terminal is used byusers B1, C1, D1, B2, E2, F2 in the remainder of the description.

Users B1, C1, D1, B2, E2, F2, connect in a conventional way toinstantaneous messaging service servers S1 and/or S2 in order to open aninstantaneous messaging session.

In accordance with the invention, means making it possible to implementinstantaneous messaging services are shifted in a virtual presenceserver 100 that is independent of existing instantaneous messagingservice servers S1, S2. In practice, virtual presence server 100 is acomputer or a computer programme configured to provide certaininstantaneous messaging services to the mobile terminals of the clientsthat connect to it.

Virtual presence server 100 can in particular be equipped with meansmaking it possible to automatically manage an instantaneous messagingsession in place of a user, filter messages and manage the contact listsof a user. However, other services such as: weather forecasts,advertisements, games, audio messaging, or others can be implemented.

The use of virtual presence server 100 thus makes it possible to add newfeatures to an instantaneous messaging system known in the art, withouthaving to modify existing messaging serves S1 and S2.

In reference to FIG. 2, virtual presence server 100 is connected to atleast one mobile client terminal TA and to at least one of the existingmessaging servers S1, S2 in such a way that the information intended foror sent by said mobile client terminal transit by said virtual presenceserver during the session.

In practice, when user A of mobile client terminal TA wishes to open aninstantaneous messaging session, a computer application placed in saidterminal sends a presence request intended for virtual presence server100. This presence request can contain the identification of the userand a password needed for the virtual presence server 100 to authorisethe connection. This is conventional management of access authorisation.In certain exemplary embodiments, the presence request contains a pieceof unique information making it possible to identify user A in a uniquemanner. This exchange of information is performed by the intermediary ofa conventional communications protocol: HTTP, SMS, TCP or otherconnection. In the same way as with systems known in the art, as long asuser A personally keeps his instantaneous messaging session open, thecomputer application of his mobile client terminal TA periodicallycontinues to send presence requests according to a certain frequency orstands by for information coming from virtual presence server 100.

After analysing the information for identifying user A, virtual presenceserver 100 authorises the connection and allocates a memory spacewherein it will keep a copy of the information that is going tocirculate.

Once the connection has been established between the mobile clientterminal TA and the virtual presence server 100, the latter connects toat least one of the messaging servers S1 and/or S2 in such a way thatthe information intended for or sent by said mobile client terminaltransits by said virtual presence server during the session.

According to the community that users B1, C1, D1, B2, E2, F2 with whomuser A is likely to converse are a member of, virtual presence server100 will connect to instantaneous messaging server S1 linked to a firstcommunity Co1, or to instantaneous messaging server S2 linked to anothercommunity Co2. If user A wishes to converse with users present acrossseveral communities, the virtual presence server will simultaneouslyconnect to the different messaging servers S1, S2. Virtual presenceserver 100 thus serves as a gateway between the mobile client terminalTA and the instantaneous messaging service servers S1 and/or S2involved, by allowing the messages and requests to transit, and byapplying certain action rules if needed.

In order to establish the connection, presence server 100 sends apresence request to the messaging servers S1 and/or S2 involved. Thispresence request is similar to that sent by the computer application ofthe mobile client terminal TA and contains information making itpossible to identify user A. The fact that a presence request similar tothat sent by mobile terminal TA is sent makes it possible to avoidmodifying the identification protocols integrated into existingmessaging servers S1, S2. In an alternative embodiment, instead ofsending new presence requests, virtual presence server 100 allows thepresence requests sent periodically by the computer application placedin the mobile client terminal TA to be transmitted to messaging serversS1 and/or S2.

After analysing the information for identifying user A, messagingservers S1 and/or S2 authorise the opening of the instantaneousmessaging session. Messaging servers S1 and/or S2 then inform the otherusers B1, C1, D1, B2, E2, F2 that user A is connected and ready toconverse. Also, messaging servers S1 and/or S2 can transmit to virtualpresence server 100 the state of presence of the other users B1, C1, D1,B2, E2, F2 in session and ready to converse with user A. User A can thenconverse with users B1, C1, D1, B2, E2, F2 that have opened a session.

Virtual presence server 100 is thus perceived by messaging servers S1and/or S2 as being the mobile terminal of user A. Here, the meaning ofthe expression “virtual presence” is understood since, for instantaneousmessaging service servers S1 and/or S2, server 100 corresponds virtuallyto mobile client terminal TA.

When a request sent for this purpose is received by the virtual presenceserver 100, the instantaneous messaging service servers S1 and/or S2transmit to said virtual presence server the contact lists of user A.The latter are then stored in a storage area of virtual presence server100.

The identity of users B1, C1, D1, B2, E2, F2 registered in these contactlists is for example communicated to virtual presence server 100 via thetransmission of their name (for example “B1”, “C1”, “D1”, “B2”, “E2”,“F2”) and/or their email address (for example “B1@Co1.com”,“C1@Co1.com”, “D1@Co1.com”, “B2@Co2.com”, “E2@Co2.com”, “F2@Co2.com”),etc.

Compared with the known instantaneous messaging system shown in FIG. 1,virtual presence server 100 comprises a means to aggregate the differentcontact lists received in order to only manage a single list 110 inwhich are registered the identities of the different users B1, C1, D1,B2, E2, F2, without distinction as to the community that said users aremembers of. In practice, aggregating contact lists is performed by theintermediary of a programme, subroutine or other.

In order to manage the conversation efficiently, it is possible thatuser A wishes to converse only with a part of his contacts and filtermessages coming from other users. To that end, virtual presence server100 comprises a database containing filtering rules intended to beapplied to the messages sent by the terminals of users B1, C1, D1, B2,E2, F2 registered in the contact lists transmitted to said server. Thesefiltering rules can be applied during the normal operation of theinstantaneous messaging session and/or during automatic management ofthe session by virtual presence server 100.

For example, mobile client terminal TA may comprise a computerapplication allowing to transmit the filtering rules to virtual presenceserver 100 that user A wishes to have associated with the differentusers B1, C1, D1, B2, E2, F2, said server being equipped with means torecord these filtering rules in the database.

In reference to the example in FIG. 2, user A wishes to receive messagesonly from users B1, B2 and E2 and wishes to filter messages from C1, D1and F2. To that end, the computer application placed in the mobileclient terminal TA transmits a request to virtual presence server 100intended to indicate that the messages coming from users B1, B2 and E2can be communicated to him (B1=OK; B2=OK; E2=OK) and that messagescoming from users C1, D1 and F2 must be filtered (C1=NO; D1=NO; F2=NO).

Mobile client terminal TA can integrate a specific interface making itpossible to choose, for each one of his contacts, a predeterminedfiltering rule. This can be a graphical interface on which is presentedthe list of the different contacts, a pull-down menu being associatedwith each one of said contacts, said pull-down menu presenting thedifferent filtering rules. User A must then simply validate a filteringrule for each one of his contacts. Certain filtering rules can bedefined as defaults. For example, if user A does not choose anyparticular filtering rule for a contact, the messages sent by the latterare considered to be authorised to transit to the mobile client terminalTA. Once the filtering rules have been defined, the computer applicationof the mobile client terminal TA transmits this data to virtual presenceserver 100.

Filtering rules are more preferably programmes or programme commandsdeveloped by the designers of virtual presence server 100 and integratedinto said server. Operators of instantaneous messaging servicestherefore no longer have to modify their messaging server S1 and/or S2in order to offer this filtering service to user A.

In certain exemplary embodiments, virtual presence server 100 isequipped with means to analyse the contact lists transmitted by themobile client terminal, and to check if for each of users B1, C1, D1,B2, E2, F2, registered in said lists, one or several filtering rules arealready recorded in the database. This feature allows user A to not haveto systematically transmit the same filtering rules to virtual presenceserver 100. This analysis can be performed by the intermediary of atable of correspondence associating to the users already registered inthe contact list 110, the last filtering rule that they were subject to.

In certain exemplary embodiments, virtual presence server 100 comprisesa means to transmit an alert message to terminals TC1, TD1, TF2 of usersC1, D1, F2 of which the messages have been filtered. Likewise, virtualpresence server 100 will be able to transmit an alert message to themobile client terminal TA of user A when a message is filtered. Thealert message can be of the SMS, MMS, e-mail, or other type and transitby a communications network known by those skilled in the art.

In reference to FIG. 2, it can happen that a single user B is a memberof two different communities Co1 and Co2. In this case, he will have twodifferent identities according to whether he is connected to one or theother of the communities, for example B@Co1.com and B@Co2.com. When userB opens an instantaneous messaging session on the first community Co1,he is seen by virtual presence server 100 as a first user B1 having foridentity: B@Co1.com. Likewise, when user B opens an instantaneousmessaging session on a second community Co2, he is seen by virtualpresence server 100 as a second user B2 having for identity: B@Co2.com.

In certain exemplary embodiments, virtual presence server 100 isconfigured to recognise that users B1 and B2 are in fact a singleperson. To that end, the computer application placed in the mobileclient terminal TA transmits a piece of information to virtual presenceserver 100 indicating that users B1 and B2 having different identitiesmust be treated as a single user B. As such, virtual presence server 100will be able to choose to connect to instantaneous messaging server S1or S2 to which mobile terminal TB1 or TB2 of user B is connected.Virtual presence server 100 will therefore be able to establish thisconnection independently to the community that user B is a member of,while preserving user A's ability to converse with user B.

Likewise, user A will be able to define a single filtering rule for userB, with virtual presence server 100 being configured to apply thisfiltering rule to the messages intended for or sent by terminals TB1 orTB2 of users B1 or B2.

As long as user A of mobile client terminal TA keeps his session open,virtual presence server 100 allows the messages to transit to saidmobile terminal. Virtual presence server 100 can also let the presencerequests sent periodically by the computer application placed in themobile client terminal TA transit to the messaging servers S1 and/or S2.Also, virtual presence server 100 allows the update requests or othersto transit, coming from messaging serves S1 and/or S2 and intended formobile terminal TA.

In certain embodiments, as soon as user A closes his instantaneousmessaging session, virtual presence server 100 activates means ofmanagement and automatically manages the instantaneous messaging sessionin place of said user A. In this configuration, the virtual presenceserver has a substantially active role.

The means of management are processors, controllers or any otherequivalent software/hardware that makes it possible to manage eventsthat occur on virtual presence server 100. By executing one or severalprogrammes, subroutines, firmware or others, the means of management areable to manage the instantaneous messaging session in place of user A.In particular, the means of management are configured to receive andstore the messages sent by the other users B1, C1, D1, B2, E2, F2 thatare still in session and send other messages as a response to saidusers.

When user A closes his instantaneous messaging session, the computerapplication placed in his mobile client terminal TA transmits a requestfor this purpose to virtual presence server 100. As soon as this requestis received, virtual presence server 100 activates the means ofmanagement. This activation can also be subject to receiving a piece ofinformation indicating explicitly that user A wishes that virtualpresence server 100 continue to manage his session automatically. Inpractice, this request contains a code or a portion of a code that isable, when executed, to activate the means of management.

In a complementary manner and/or as an alternative embodiment, virtualpresence server 100 may be configured to activate the means ofmanagement when the connection between mobile client terminal TA andsaid virtual presence server is cut off. It is indeed possible that userA closes his session without the computer application placed in hismobile client terminal TA having had the time to transmit the closingrequest. In practice, when the connection between the mobile clientterminal TA and virtual presence server 100 is cut off, an applicationplaced in said server activates the means of management.

Once activated, the means of management maintains the connection betweenvirtual presence server 100 and the instantaneous messaging serviceservers S1 and/or S2. As such, servers S1 and/or S2 continue to receiveand send requests without detecting the absence of user A and continueto manage the instantaneous messaging session as if said user A werestill connected.

Receiving messages sent by users B1, C1, D1, B2, E2, F2 that are stillin session, controls the means of management in such a way that itstores said messages in a storage area of virtual presence server 100.As such, when user A opens his instantaneous messaging session again, hewill be able to take note of all of the messages that have beenexchanged.

When the session is managed automatically, the means of management cancontrol the sending of an alert message intended for mobile clientterminal TA, when a message sent by terminals TB1, TC1, TD1, TB2, TE2,TF2 of users B1, C1, D1, B2, E2, F2 that are still in session andintended for user A, is received by virtual presence server 100. In thisway, user A can be informed that one of his contacts is trying to reachhim. The alert message can be of the SMS, MMS, e-mail, or other type andtransit by a communications network known by those skilled in the art.

Messaging servers S1 and/or S2 may comprise means to transmit a presencerequest to virtual presence server 100 when a new user registered in thecontact lists opens an instantaneous messaging session. In this case,the reception of this presence request activates the means of managementof virtual presence server 100 in such a way that said means ofmanagement sends an alert message intended for mobile client terminalTA. User A can thus be informed that one of his contacts is ready tocommunicate with him. The alert message can be of the SMS, MMS, e-mail,or other type and transit by a communications network known by thoseskilled in the art.

In the same way, when virtual presence server 100 detects a new event(new message, etc.) that is likely to be of interest to user A, themeans of management can send an alert message intended for mobile clientterminal TA.

In case of automatic management of the session, it can also bebeneficial to alert the other users B1, C1, D1, B2, E2, F2 that arestill in session, that user A cannot respond immediately, but that theycan continue to converse normally as if he were still present. Indeed,the other users B1, C1, D1, B2, E2, F2 could find it surprising thatuser A is no longer participating in the conversation although it isassumed that he is still in session.

To that end, once activated, the means of management controls thesending of an alert message intended for terminals TB1, TC1, TD1, TB2,TE2, TF2 of the other users B1, C1, D1, B2, E2, F2 that are still insession. The alert message can be of the SMS, MMS, e-mail, or other typeand transit by messaging serves S1 and/or S2 or by anothercommunications network known by those skilled in the art.

Virtual presence server 100 in accordance with the invention thus makesit possible to aggregate several features that an instantaneousmessaging server S1 and/or S2 would not be able to support, unlesscomplex modifications are carried out.

Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain usingno more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specificembodiments of the invention described herein. The scope of the presentinvention is not intended to be limited to the above Description, butrather is as set forth in the following claims.

1. An instant messaging system, comprising: at least two instantmessaging service servers configured to deliver instant messagingservices to mobile terminals connected to the at least two instantmessaging service servers and to which users of the mobile terminalshave opened an instant messaging session; and a virtual presence serverindependent of the at least two instant messaging service servers, thevirtual presence server being connected to a mobile client terminal andto the at least two instant messaging service servers in such a way thatinformation intended for or sent by the mobile client terminal transitsvia the virtual presence server, wherein the at least two instantmessaging service servers are configured to transmit contact listsintended for the mobile client terminal, the contact lists beingintercepted by the virtual presence server, the virtual presence serveraggregating the contact lists received into a single list in which areregistered identities of users, without distinction as to communitymembership of the users, wherein a computer application executed by themobile client terminal transmits a piece of information to the virtualpresence server in order that one of the users appearing in multiple ofthe contact lists is represented only once in the single list generatedby the virtual presence server, and wherein the virtual presence servertransmits the single list to the mobile client terminal.
 2. The systemof claim 1, wherein the mobile client terminal transmits a piece ofinformation to the virtual presence server indicating that the one ofthe users having at least two different identities must be treated as asingle user.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein: the virtual presenceserver automatically manages an instant messaging session in place of auser of the mobile client terminal, the at least two instant messagingservice servers transmit a presence request to the virtual presenceserver when a new user registered in the contact lists opens an instantmessaging session, when the presence request is received, the virtualpresence server sends an alert message intended for the mobile clientterminal during automatic management of the messaging session.
 4. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the virtual presence server comprises adatabase storing filtering rules to be applied to messages sent by themobile terminals of the users registered in the contact lists.
 5. Thesystem of claim 4, wherein the virtual presence server transmits analert message to ones of the mobile terminals whose messages have beenfiltered.
 6. The system of claim 4 or 5, wherein the virtual presenceserver transmits an alert message to the mobile client terminal when amessage is filtered.
 7. The system of claim 4 or 5, wherein the mobileclient terminal transmits filtering rules associated with differentusers to the virtual presence server, the virtual presence serverrecording the filtering rules in the database.
 8. The system of claim 7,wherein the virtual presence server analyzes the contact liststransmitted by the mobile client terminal, and checks if, for each oneof the users registered in the lists, one or several filtering rules arealready recorded in the database.
 9. The system of claim 4 or 5, whereinthe mobile client terminal transmits a piece of information to thevirtual presence server indicating that the one of the users havingdifferent identities must be treated as a single user, the virtualpresence server being able to connect to the instant messaging server towhich the mobile terminal of the user is connected; and the virtualpresence server is configured to apply the same filtering rule to themessages intended for or sent by the mobile terminals of users havingdifferent identities but having to be treated as a single user.
 10. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein, when a connection between the mobile clientterminal and the virtual presence server is cut off, the virtualpresence server: maintains connections to the at least two instantmessaging service servers; continues to receive messages from the usersof the mobile terminals via the at least two instant messaging serviceservers; and stores the messages for later retrieval by the mobileclient terminal.
 11. A method for controlling a virtual presence serverin an instant messaging (IM) system having client terminals thatestablish IM sessions with IM servers, the method comprising: connectingto the IM servers; providing connectivity with the IM servers to a firstuser of a mobile client terminal, wherein IM information transmittedfrom the mobile client terminal and IM information transmitted to themobile client terminal is transmitted through the virtual presenceserver; intercepting contact lists sent by the IM servers and intendedfor the mobile client terminal, wherein each of the contact listsincludes user information associated with a corresponding one of the IMservers; and aggregating the contact lists into a single list, whereinthe first user performs IM communications with entries on the singlelist, the aggregating including: in response to a piece of informationfrom the mobile client, selectively associating a user identity from afirst one of the contact lists with a user identity from a second one ofthe contact lists based on the user identity from the first one of thecontact lists corresponding to a first user and the user identity fromthe second one of the contact lists also corresponding to the firstuser; and including a single entry in the single list that correspondsto both the user identity from the first one of the contact lists andthe user identity from the second one of the contact lists.
 12. Themethod of claim 11, further comprising receiving an indication from themobile client terminal that specifies the user identity from the firstone of the contact lists and the user identity from the second one ofthe contact lists, wherein the selectively associating is performedbased on the indication.
 13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:selectively automatically managing an IM session on behalf of the firstuser; receiving a message from one of the IM servers indicating presenceof a new user; and during automatic management of the IM session,sending an alert to the mobile client terminal when the messageindicating presence of the new user is received.
 14. The method of claim11, further comprising storing a database of filtering rules applied toIM messages.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein a single one of thefiltering rules applies both to messages from the client terminalassociated with the user identity from the first one of the contactlists and to messages from the client terminal associated with the useridentity from the second one of the contact lists.
 16. The method ofclaim 15, further comprising, when a message from one of the users useris filtered, transmitting an alert to the one of the users.
 17. Themethod of claim 15, further comprising transmitting, when a message fromone of the users user is filtered, transmitting an alert to the mobileclient terminal.
 18. The method of claim 15, wherein filtering comprisesdiscarding messages from the client terminal associated with the useridentity from the first one of the contact lists and discarding messagesfrom the client terminal associated with the user identity from thesecond one of the contact lists.
 19. The method of claim 14, furthercomprising receiving the filtering rules from the mobile clientterminal.
 20. An instant messaging (IM) system, comprising: IM serversconfigured to deliver IM services to mobile terminals connected to theIM servers and to which users of the mobile terminals have opened IMsessions; and a virtual presence server independent of the IM servers,the virtual presence server being connected to a mobile client terminaland to the IM servers, the virtual presence server intercepting andselectively retransmitting information sent by the mobile clientterminal and information intended for the mobile client terminal,wherein the IM servers transmit contact lists intended for the mobileclient terminal, the lists being intercepted by the virtual presenceserver, the virtual presence server aggregating the contact listsreceived into a single list in which are registered identities of users,without distinction as to community membership of the users, wherein themobile client terminal transmits a piece of information to the virtualpresence server instructing that one of the users appearing in multipleof the contact lists be treated as a single user, the virtual presenceserver including the one of the users only once in the single list,wherein the virtual presence server transmits the single list to themobile client terminal, wherein the mobile client terminal transmitsfiltering rules to the virtual presence server, the virtual presenceserver recording the filtering rules in a database, the virtual presenceserver discarding messages from ones of the mobile terminals based onthe filtering rules and transmitting an alert message to ones of themobile terminals whose messages have been filtered, and wherein thevirtual presence server applies a single filtering rule to messages fromthe one of the users regardless of from which of the IM servers themessages arrive.